
'V<. 



Class /cS-^ffTOT 



■_/)6;iM 



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Book 



Copyright }1°_ 



<^/6 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSITS 



LYRA AMORIS 



II 



LYRA 

A M O R I S 



^ 



•TO BE LOVE'S BONDMAN IS TRUE LIBERTY" 

— M anion 



PEGRAM DARGAN 




PRINTED 

AT 

NEW ORLEANS 

BY 

The L. graham CO.. Ltd 
MCMXV. 



COPYRIGHT. 1915 

BY 
PEGRAM DARGAN 






FIFTY COPIES PRINTED 



MAR 26idl5 

©Ci.A397297 




ontents 



Page 

TO LOVE 7 

THE CONQUEROR 9 

TO THE STARS 11 

THE CHARMER MOST CHARMIN'G TO ME 12 

'TIS **CLEAR" 13 

A TRYSTING SONG 14 

INDISCREET 16 

ON AN ATTEMPT AT SURPRISE 18 

"DO I LONG TO SEE THEE SOON?" 20 

THE GREATER WAR 21 

ON TUIE 22 

QUITE A DIFFERENCE 2-t 

M:Y lady COMES 25 

MY LADY SMILES 2:> 

MY LADY KNEELS 26 

MY L-\DY SLEEPS 26 

JEALOUSY 27 

A WELCOME TO FOLLY 20 

THE CONTEST 30 

A GOOD-NIGHT 32 

THE FIRST THOUGHT, THE LAST THOUGHT 33 

TO SLEEP 34 

"GOOD MORROW !" : 35 



V. 



Contents 

Page 

MY DREAMS, MY HOPES, ARE THEE AND HEAVEN 37 

LEAVE, O, LEAVE ME SOMETHING STILL! 39 

THE SAME 40 

AMOR INVICTUS 41 

A GOOD-NIGHT 43 

S0N^T:TS TO A STAR 44 

THIS IS THE DAY 46 

ADVICE TO WOMAN 47 

FORGET ME NOT ! 49 

WERE SHE SITTING BESIDE ME 51 

OX RETURNING A GIFT 52 

ON LOVE 53 

DEVOTION SEASONABLE , 54 

A GREETING FOR NEW YEAR 55 

ON GIFTS RFX)EIVED AT CHRISTMAS 57 

LIKE THE MINSTREL OF NATURE 58 

REMEMBER STILL ! 60 

MY LOVE A RED ROSE SENT ME 61 

OH ! W^RE OUR HEARTS AS ISlLES AT SEA 63 

"AWAY I" 64 

OLARABELLE 65 

SATIS SUPERQUE 69 



VI. 




Ba Hour 



LOA'E, that stronger art than wine I'' 

That broughtst great Caesar to his knees, 
And the Avorld-conqueror madst resign 
His scepter for thine ampler ease : 
Ponr out^ once more, thy ruby cup, 
And let nie, dying, drink it up ! 



Thou victor o'er the stoutest hearts, 

Thou conqueror of the strongest hands ! 
The wisest Against thee know^ no arts, 
The weakest as the mightiest stands : — 
Binder of Samson with a wile. 
And IsraePs wisest with a smile ! 



Accept obedience from thy slave. 

Who Against thee never even strove ; 
But full submission to thee gave, 

x\nd all received from generous Love ! — 
Thy captive by thee is not harmed, 
But, in thy service, is new^-armed ! 



LYRA AMORIS 

Great Chief, allegiance to tliee due, 

iVdmitted by the wisest, I, 
Tho' nothing wise, do offer you. 
Thou sole and single Deity : 

Xo king below, no god above. 
Can equal or compare thee, Love ! 

Then deign thine ear our notes to lend, 

All worthless, save thy praise they sing ; 
And to us still thy bounties send. 

To Avhoni oar hearts we hunibly bring: 
All Avorth, all honor, still be thine — 
'*^0 Love, that mightier art than wine !'^ 



LYRA AM0RI8 



THE CONQUEEOE 

SUKS may set and stars may fall. 
Summer's leaf may lose its sheen, 
Winter^s frost envelop all; 

Hope's strong staff, on which we lean, 
May be broken — ^let it break ! 
Love can np the difference make ! 

Spilt may be the ruby wine. 

Dashed the berry from the bough. 
Only pebbles from the mine 

May be digged ; from Ocean's brow 

And the rose each pearl be swept— 
Dearer drops Love's eyes have wept I 

Dearer dews than on the rose, 

Fairer gems than in the sea, 
Love can such rare things disclose — 
Sole and only alchemj^: 

Lovers' riches can't be told — 
Love can turn the world to sfold ! 



LYRA AMORIS 

The bee may roam in vain to find 

Morning sweets in any bud ; 
Be the kernels as the rind, 

Bitter food for roving blood : — 
On the honey of his lips 
Love can live, tho' no bee sips ! 

Music, like a spider crazed, 

May in discord weave her threads, 
^Fore the porched ear amazed — 

Love will weave anew the shreds — 
Love will all the tangle clear — 
Love will soothe anew the ear! 

Monarchs' crests are paltry things. 

Swords can conquer only dirt ! 
Victory to the King of Kings ! 
Victory to great Cupid! — wert 
Thou beside me, then above 
Kings I'd be, tho' slave to Love ! 



10 



LYRA AMOBIS 



TO THE STARS 

YOU gently trembling orbs above, 
How sweet a fortune do you prove : 
A heaven of blue, a heaven of love, 
In which you ever fixed move ! 

How different from our fates below : 
We love an hour, and sometimes more, 

But just how long we never know. 
Until we feel, alas ! ^tis o^er ! 

Yet sweet it is, tho^ ne'er so brief. 
The time to honeyed love we give; 

And lack of love is all our grief — 
Ah ! could we loving ever live ! 

Then would we not even envy you 

Your heaven of love, your heaven of blue ! 



II 



LYRA AM0RI8 



THE CHAEMER MOST CHARMING TO ME 

OH ! it is not the light in thy bonnj^ eyes bright, 
Nor the rich rosy red of thy cheeks ; 
And it is not the gleam of the soft-rippling stream 
From thy forehead that thy little foot seeks; 

It has far less to do with thy garments' bright hue, 

Or with any rare gem yon ma}^ wear; 
And 'tis not that men say, when you're walking their way, 

^ What a queen ! — what a grace ! — what an air !" 

And 'tis not your perplexing all your sex, without vexing — 

A distinction for Greece or for Eome : 
'Tis that sparkle of soul, that, like wine from the bowl. 

Overflows from thy tongue's honied home ! 

Oh ! this it is taJces me, and tliis it is makes me^ 

Charmer, your adorer to be; 
Thus, thus, you have captured me, thus have enraptured me, 

Charmer most charming to me ! 



12 



J 



LYRA AMORIS 



i'^i^^LEAE'' is thine eye, 
V^ *^^Clear'^ as the sky; 
Nor doth belie 
Thy souFs rare clarity! 

Sure is thy trust, 
Pure is thy lust; 
All honor must 
Thy true sincerity! 

^^Clear" is thy name, 

"Clear'^ is thy fame; 
All men acclaim 
Thy known integrity! 

Clearly I prove thee 
Worthy to move me; 
Dearly I love thee — 
It is a verity! 



13 



LYRA AMORIS 



A TEYSTING SONG 

PITT on your little blue bonnet^ 
With the blue ribbons on it, 
And come, little Sunshine, down the lane ! 
I will be there before you. 
With the same smile for you. 
And 1^11 kiss you again and again ! 

And we^U not then talk of "weather,^^ 

When we're walking there together ; 
But we'll shock the little birds upon the trees, 

When I tell you how I love you. 

By the blue sky above you ! 
And I'm kneeling at your feet upon my knees ! 

And, if this doesn't make you happy. 

Then I'll think it very "shabby," 
And I'll never kiss you — never again ! 

But I think I know you better. 

So I'm betting on this letter. 
That you'll meet me in the same old lane ! 



14 



LYRA AMORIS 

Then fare you well^ my Birdie ! 

If I do not keep my word^ ye 
Shouldn^t think it broken by the drops that fell ; 

^Tis because IVe died of sorrow^ 

Sadly waiting for to-morrow, 
Only waiting for my little Clarabelle ! 



15 



LYRA AMORIS 



INDISCREET 

WHEN a trim little foot, 
In a bright little boot, 
Comes tripping along down the street, 



Says one little road stone, 
To another little one : 
^^Did you ever see the like — ain't she sweet ? 

I don't want her to stumble. 
But, oh ! if she must tumble. 
Lord ! I hope I'm the fortunate one !" — 

When that other little stone, 
To his brother little stone. 
Says : "^'You reason, sir, just like a stone ! 

Had you looked in her eyes. 
Or above her shoe-ties, 
Your conclusions had been more discreet: 



i6 



LYRA AJilOBIS 

Why to talk of lier falling 
Were nonsense appalling, 
Even Folly herself would have known; 

Bnt^ say that she did^ 
On a stone wonld she hit, 
Who has everybody's heart at her feet ?^^ 

Then that poor little stone 
Kept as silent as one 
Whose business was paving alone ! 

3^011 poor little stone, 

1 had hopes like your own, 

But now, little stone, we have none ! 



1/ 



LYRA AMOBIS 



ON AN ATTEMPT AT SURPEISE 

NBYEE folly went so far, 
j^ever error greater was ! 
Pleasing, teasing Imp 3^011 are, 

Forth and show 3'Oiir j)retty face ! 
Think I know not yon are there? 
View the proofs as daylight clear : 

By the ripples in the lake 

Eain is seen before we feel it ; 
So thy presence still doth make 
In my heart waves do reveal it : 
That in vain it is j^ou'd try 
To be screened and yet be by. 

Shadows point to vulgar e3^es. 

Feet that follow after shadows : 
So a beam before thee flies. 

Like the gleam ^fore Him that made ns^ 
Without which ^e never stirs; 
^JsTor do you, or my sense errs. 



18 



LYRA AM ORIS 

Though you hide you in the roses — 

Pretty roses that so hide you ! 
Though the star the sage eye poses^ 
Starry Elf, I have descried you : 

Cupid may be blind, but sees you — 
With my eyes, if so it please you ! 

Then, since I have proved my case, 
Forth and show thy pretty face ! 



19 



LYRA A3I0RIS 



^DO I LONG TO SEE THEE SOON?'' 

IF the rivers seek the sea, 
If for honey seeks the bee; 
If the weary seek for rest, 
If the babe the mother's breast — 
If the prisoner would be free — 
Then I long to be with thee ! 
If be bright the sun and moon, 
Then I "long to see thee soon'' ! 

If refreshing summer's showers, 
If be welcome spring-time flowers — 
Thou art welcome to me ever ! 
And full "soon" seems late or never ! 
Say I'd see thee every second. 
Then how oft you shall have reckon'd ! 
Ask me when I would not see thee. 
And to answer were more easy ! 



20 



LYRA AMOBIS 



THE GKEATEK WAR 



LET the fools Avar for the worlds 
Slash their jackets^ cut their throats. 
All my flags before her furled;, 

Save one white one o'er me floats : 
At her feet I lowlj^ kneel^, 
Conquered by far more than steel ! 

Though the navies weight the seas^ 

Though the cannon shake the center, 
I gain more upon my knees 

Than the all for which they venture : 
There's no island worth a part^ 
There's no sea worth half her heart I 

Let the mighty folly rage, 

Let the stupid stare and gaze — 
I in mightier strife engage. 
More than forts I daily raze : 

My sword I draw in greater wars — 
Love alone can conquer Mars ! 



21 



LYRA AMORIS 



ON TIME 

OTime ! whose bosom^ like a ship. 
Bears treasures to a distant shore^ 
Tho^ slow or fast thy moments slip^ 
Each clay we're nearer than before! 

Each hour in passing, like a wave, 

Supports us, and, too, bears us on — 

To him who waits Fate ever gave, 

And, without patience, who has won? 

Sole foster-nurse of great designs. 

Best f urtherer of high intents ! 
Time ripens heads, as well as wines — 

In time we cut our ^"^six percents'' ! 

Our wisdom-teeth — and, better yet, 

We ^^cut'*' some friend, 'tis Heaven to lose ! 

Time sometimes, too, out-laws a debt — 

Which proves that Time can "beat the Jews'' ! 



22 



LYRA AM ORIS 

And Love^ that ever 'gainst Time frets, 
(Impatient, vain and silly Cupid!) 

By time alone his best fruit gets : 

That I must patient be — or stupid! 



23 



LYRA AMORIS 



QUITE A DIFFERENCE 

IT may have been pleasant^ when Methusaleh lived, 
And a fortnight long kiss would reward forty years; 
But really ;, my dear, if the wise are believed, 

Both our lives and our patience are much less than theirs : 
They could plan, for a century, what they w^ould do. 
And then have, to do it, a century or two ! 

Then a girl, like a hundred-year bloomer would bloom. 
And a f ellow'd take a week but to tie on his shoes ! — 

But, dearest charmer, all the time we consume 

In discussions like this, past discussion, we lose — 

Then, come, let^s be modern, and as moderns behave; 

Since I^m not Methusaleh and you are not Eve ! 



24 



LYRA AMORIS 



MY LADY COMES 



MY lady comes ! and how my heart beats then. 
As it had never beat, or conld again ! 
bonniest bark, bravest of all ships, 
Whose harbor is these arms, whose port these lips : 
Sail in, sail in, proud bark I thy crew, sea-weary. 
Will find on shore a welcome passing merry ! 



MY LADY SMILES 

MY Lady smiles ! as smiles no other creature ; 
For, when she smiles, Heaven^s seen in every 
feature : 
Her eyes are stars, but softer light do sprinkle. 
And, when she smiles, oh ! how those stars do twinkle ! 
Her lips are roses, but no thorns between them, — 
At least, if there be thorns, I Ve never seen them ! 



25 



LYRA AMOlilS 



MY LADY KNEELS 



MY lady kneels I and all above attend lier, 
To see who shall be luckiest to befriend her; 
That, when she breathes a prayer into the air, 
A thousand wings descend to answer her ! 
Her breast, they know, is such a true-love casket, 
It is enough in Heaven if Clara ask it ! 



M 



MY LADY SLEEPS 



Y lady sleeps ! happy, happy, pillow, 
To rest so dear a head ! — Tossed on lovers billow. 



Could I rest find, I'd have no need of feather — 
A softer rest I know, were we together ! 
My lady sleeps, with angels all about her. 
But, were they devils, I would never doubt her ! 



26 



LYRA AMORIS 



JEALOUSY 

MY lady wept^ and 'round her sighed 
Each damsel and each dame; 
But not from sympathv they cried — 
The truth I must proclaim: 

But it was jealousy that moved 

These ladies to despond; 
For better than her life each loved 

Some pearl or diamond; 

That husband^ sweetheart, friend had given 

To brighten up an ear^ 
Or make a breast seem like snow driven — 

That could not linger there ! 

But how, you say, could tears of her, 

My lady, move them so ? 
Why, thus it was : in every tear 

They saw a l^right gem grow 



27 



LYRA AMORIS 

Into fair being, then fall out 

Its heaven like a star; 
And instantly each knew, past doubt, 

All hers were outshone far ! 

For what was any gem, possessed 

By damsel or by dame, 
Compared with those bright drops, and blest. 

That kissed her cheek^s pure flame? 

The rose had owned her colder drop 

Indifferently compared ; 
And, like those ladies, had lost hope, 

And in their grief had shared. 

^Tor Heaven^s sake ! cease, Clara, cease 

To weep !" they did implore ; 
Till she must smile, to give them peace. 

And worth to what they wore ! 

And, since obliging alwa3's she. 

And for effect ne'er cares. 
She smiles, at once, good-naturedly, 

And saves them from her tears ! 



28 



LYRA AJIORIS 



A WELCOME TO FOLLY 

THEY say that the vows of thy sex should be traced 
In the sands by the sea^ to be as quickly erased ; 
That the dew on the flower will oft last as long 
As the faith of the f air^ that the cobweb^s as strong ; 
That he who shall trust you will soon rue it well — 
The very warmth of your welcome doth hatch a farewell ! 
That the wise only fly you^ the foolish pursue : — 
I admit it in general — I deny it for you! 

Then^ happy Exception to such a vile rulC;, 
I shall prove your adorer, tho^ it prove me a fool! 
I shall trust you, and love you — away with each doubt ! 
To live with you, I know, can't be worse than without ! 

Then, adieu to the tvisdom I'm advised to pursue, 
And a welcome to folly, so it takes me to you ! 



29 



LYRA AM OBI 8 



L 



THE CONTEST 



OVE in her bosom, like a bee^ 
Doth store his sweets : 



Sucked from her lips, her cheek, where he 
Oft me defeats ! 

I lose a hair and he a feather, 

Such the spoils are; 
We cannot kiss her both together, 

And so we war! 



^Twere wiser, you^U say, no doubt, should we 

Divide the field; 
^Twere wiser truty, but how could we — 

Vll never yield. 

To tamely stand and see him light 

On lips or cheek; 
^Gainst odds, Against reason I will fight, 

Greek against Greek! 



30 



LYRA AMORIS 

Intoxicated with her breath, 

I and this Bee 
Will, no doubt, fight on, until Death 

Takes him or me. 

Give np he'll never, nor will I — 

''Both fools, in sooth V 
And true — but, could you one kiss try, 

You'd fisrht us doth! 



31 



LYRA AM0RI8 



A GOOD-NIGHT! 



GOOD-A^IGIIT?"— how can the night be ^%ood/^ 
That keeps me from that breast of thine ? 
What fool first named it such, or could 
So think it^ had no heart like mine ; 
Unless he lied, to see her smile, 
With his heart breaking all the while ! 

^^Good-night V^ — how many hearts have broken 

O^er those same words, I hate to think. 
From the first night, when they were spoken, 
Down to this one, on which they sink 
Into mj^ bosom like a dart, 
Shot hj Despair into my heart ! 

^^Good-night !^^ — when it is so indeed. 

Vain folly ^twill be to repeat them : 
When lips on lips may freely feed, 

Xor day nor nisfht can longer cheat them : 
Then will I say ''Good-nighf to you. 
Meantime ''Faretveir — or else '' Adieu !" 



32 



LYRA AMORIS 



THE FIRST THOUGHT, THE LAST THOUGHT 

WHEX the last beam of clay-light has sunk from the sky, 
And o'er the dark night-stream we bend with a sigh, 
Say, what is the thought, of all thoughts that arise, 
Will then most warm the breast, will then most dim the eyes ? 
'Tis the thought of some dear one, fond, warm, true and kind, 
We have left for a season or an age left behind ! 

And when morning, appearing, breaks red in the east. 

Like a cup of the grape overturned at a feast, 

say in what guise will the day enter in ? 

Say how will sleep vanish and waking begin ? 

With the presence of Love, with his lips on our eyes, 

Kissing off heavy sleep, bringing in heavy sighs! 

Be it spring-time or autumn, be it day-time or dark, 
Be we lulled by the night-bird or waked by the lark. 
Still the first thought, the last thought, is his, ever his ! 
Be it old love or new love, still sweet Love's it is ! 
Yes, Love's is the first thought, the last thought — the rest 
Come as strangers — he alone is at home in the breast ! 

mightiest and dearest, most welcome and best ! 

He alone is no strans^er — lies at liome in the breast! 



33 



LYRA AM0RI8 



TO SLEEP 

KISS;, Sleep ! her lips — her eyes — her brow — her breast 
for me; 
But Love will sigh when Sleep has fled away : 
Ah ! would that Love were Sleep^ or Sleep as he, 

That I might kiss her thus all night and love all day I 

Sleep! give her then those kisses Love can^t give. 
That in her dreams immortal Love may live ! 



34 



LYRA AMOKIS 



^'GOOD MOREOW!'' 

YOU feathered choristers that sing 
Beneath my lady^s window, 
High time that you were on the wing — 
Let this my song remind yon ! 

Then swell yonr breasts, stretch each his throat, 
From Love a sweet note borrow: 

0, had Love but a feathered coat, 

How he would sing "Good morrow V^ 

How Love would sing, how Love would cry, 

"Good morrow to my lady V^ 
If Love had wings, how he would fly ! — 

Then for your task get ready ! 

Love would sing as any bird, 

The chief est of your choir; 
And, till she wakened, till she heard. 

He would nor droop nor tire ! 



35 



LYRA AM ORIS 

Then np, you birds ! and stretch your throats, 
From love a sweet note borrow ; 

Or, but lend me one o^ your feathered coats, 
That I may sing '^•Good morrow V^ 



36 



LYRA AMORIS 



MY DREAMS, MY HOPES ARE THEE AND HEAVEN 

OH I if not in this lowly sphere^ 
Of woeful cares and weary waitings 
I yet may press tiiee, own thee here — 

(Altho' the thought, m}' soul dilating, 
Might make me doubt existence there — 

What could exceed, or equal even, 
The joy that thus to me were given?) — 

]\Iy dreams, my hopes, are thee and Heaven ! 

If, doomed by tlio unkindest Fates, 

We still must meet to only part, 
Till passed are the immortal gates, 

And suffered the all-conquering dart. 
Yet may my soul — (thus sadly waits 

The broken "^^seals,^^ the '^angels seven,'^ 
The ^^great deep'' shrunk, tlie high vault riven) — 

Thus earn its hopes of thee and Heaven ! 



37 



LYRA AM ORIS 

Ah ! if e'er prayer did merit heeding, 

Thy life — ^thy voice must then be heard ! 
All suits of mine thy suit exceeding, 

Waft thou above for me one word : 
Make miite the prayer thou are not needing ! 

That I, through thee, may thus be shriven, 
My errors purged, and I, forgiven. 

Thus own my dreams of thee and Heaven! 



:^ 



LYRA AUORU^ 



LEAVE, LEAVE ME SOMETHING STILL! 

TAKE not all the light away ! 
Take not with thee ever}' beam, 
Tips the mountain, gilds the stream; 
Leave, leave me something still, 
That will say there once w^as day 
When the world doth darkness fill : 
Leave, lea^e nie something yet 
Like the stars when suns have set ! 

Take not with thee every gem 
Filled the casket of mine eyes: 
Lea^ e one brightest drop with me. 
To be worn by Memory, 
When the light of heaven dies 
On the mountain, on the stream ! 
Leave, leave me something yet 
Like the stars when suns have set! 



39 



LYRA AMORIS 



THE SAME 

A CLEAR and living stone thou art, by name; 
Or just another star, which were the same : 
Another star, like the bright North above, 
Which sailors use at sea ; so I in love 
Direct my course by ever-constant thee: 
Then shine forth, thou, that I my course may see ! 



40 



LYRA AM0BI8 



AMOR INYICTUS 

i 41 !^^ and pasans to his mighty name;, 

1 Celestial Love and mortal^ One-in-Two ! 
The light within the glow-worm is the same 

That lights the star^ or^ mightier, gilds the blue ; 
The dew-drop and the huge marine may claim 

A kinship in the sage^s ampler view : — 
To shepherd systems be the Seraph^s art, 
Thy sphere, Woman, is to form the heart ! 

The stars were growing to me fainter ever, 
The flower was less sweet than wont to be ; 

There was less music in the brook or river, 
And less of Homer speaking in the sea, 

There were less thanks to give nnto the Giver ; 
But all is changed, dear love, since I met thee : 

Changed is the heart, the eye, the ear, the whole. 

Changed is the outward man, the inner soul ! 



41 



LYRA AM0RI8 

The smallest star now holds a Cherub in it, 
The meanest flower seems sister to the rose ; 

The frailest brook sings like a bowered linnet, 
And ocean^s thunder doth the strophe close ! 

Then "lo r "lo V to the Power Infinite, 

Immortal Love, still conquering mortal woes ! 

"^^lo !" and paeans, then, be ever sung, 

To Love, the ever fair and ever young ! 

True, time will wither us, and bleak age chill, 
Death^s unintelligible law needs must prevail ; 

Man and the lilj^ must their dooms fulfill, 
Availeth nor her beauty nor his mail ! 

Yet Love o'er all shall prove invincible : 
Then to the mighty Conqueror all hail ! 

"lo !'' and pseans to the Conqueror, 

Who conquers Death, who conquered all before ! 

Hail! then, thrice hail! all hail! and welcome, Love! 

For him prepare the wreath and sound the strain. 
On earth beneath and in his courts above, 

High festivals proclaim his golden reign ! 
Each heart shall hymn his praise, his ways approve. — 

Death slays us, true, but Love redeems again ! 
Then ^^lo V^ ^^o V^ and high praise be thine, 
Superior Love, tho' mortal, still divir^e! 



42 



LYRA A3I0BIS 



A GOOD-NIGHT 

GOOD-NIGHT ! good-night ! may sweetest rest 
Be thine^ my loveliest and best ! 
And all the stars unite above, 
To light thee to sweet dreams of love : 
And every air, about thee plays, 
Eepeat what now thy lover prays : 
Soft rest and dreams of love alone. 
For thee, my dearest, thee, mine own! 

Good-night ! good-night ! may sleep like dew, 
Thy lids bedrench, thy breast bestrew 
With opiate poppies, breathing peace, 
Till every care and sorrow cease ; 
The while the Xight her reign prolongs. 
Till birds shall wake thee with their songs, 
As soft, as sweet, as Love would sing, 
Were he a bird, or owned a wing ! 

Good-night ! good-night ! may sleep, that flies 
Afar from mine, light on thine eyes ! 



43 



LYRA AM0BI8 



SONNETS TO A STAR 



B EI GET STAE ! if, like my heart, thou art in love 
With some dear lady of the night, whose coming 
Thou sadly waitest in the bowers above. 

Whose welcome is the torch thou art illuming : 
If love is with you, as with us, to suffer. 

Then ^tis, perchance, thou pitiest, even now, 
The vigils patient of a forlorn lover, 

For her who comes not to her punctual vow ! 
Then, if our fancies do not dress you in 

Imaginations only, but in truth ye are 
Cleared spirits raised above this earthly din. 

Of Fortune crossing Love, thou bright Star ! 
Still must you feel, within your ampler heart, 
A portion of the pain of which you were a part ! 



44 



LYRA AMORIS 



II. 



Then, if aspiring dust give evidence 

Of worthiness, at last, of such bright fate 
As thine, within my breast e^en now commence 

The here-on-earth beginnings of that date : 
That if thine influence, as the sages hold, 

Is potent still o'er this mortality — 
The fiery leaves wherein fates are unrolled ! — 

Thou Spirit ! — Power ! — or Star ! — whatever thou be : 
Wlien to thy flamy porch she lifts her eye, 

To hail thee brightest messenger of night, 
Teach her to copy thy fidelity ! 

That light is love, but not all love 'light T 
Then shall it not be all in vain I cite 

Thy high ^'attest,'' thou Brightest of the Bright! 



45 



LYRA AMORIS 



THIS IS THE DAY 

THIS is the day ! of all the days, my Dear, 
That I keep holy, evermore revere. 
When lip to lip, and beating heart to heart — 
(Ah! so might I^ature stand embracing Art!) 
Thy fair white hand, still warm from mine, unfurled 
My flag of happiness above the world ! 

Then, say, is it not meet that I keep "holy'^ 
The day that made me thine, and happy fully ? 

Such is my feast day, too; and for this reason, 
Since then such fruits as these with me have been in 

season : 
That not a joy Fve had but it was thine. 
Nor thou a sorrow hut I wished it mine! 

Then is it not for prayer and feasting proper. 
When such rare fruits as these the twelve months offer? 



46 



LYRA AM0RI8 



ADVICE TO WOMAN 

(Apropos of Our Late Conversation) 

MAN may not need yon^ but God does^ don't doubt yoi 
To do^ in man, what God can^t do without you ! 
Seek not new-fangled notions, nor pursue, 
Your mission is the old, but ever new : 
To rectify the spirits of thy lord. 

With thy clear smiles, and comfort to afford. — . • 

Old Mother Eve, let her be still your pattern. 
Fond, wise and thrifty, neither shrew nor slattern.—- 
Tho^ meek yet steadfast, tho^ innocent not cold, 
No ear for scandal and no tongue to scold; 
The modest Moon, before her lord, the Sun, 
Hiding her borrowed light behind his own ! 
Keeping her hearth-stone bright, her heart still warm : — 
This brings you honor, this defines your charm; 
With this, besides, to you endearment lends : 
To placate enemies, to imbosom friends, 
To evidence bright virtue to the world; 
And, where the sword is drawn, or the dart hurled, 
(Wearing thy qtowh of pity, tear-empearled,) 



47 



LYRA AMORIS 

To kneel a visible angel in the field, 

And make stout Mars once more to Beauty yield ! 

This, this, Woman, is thy proper part, 
This gives thee every tongue and every heart : 
To pass the cup of comfort to Distress, 
Which, ever given, never groweth less : 
To raze out Sorrow's ever deep inditing, 
And vrrite, in smiles, a more delightful writing ; 
To shut the wounds of heart or flesh with balms, 
And give to needy worth a word, an alms; 
To bring the famished food, the orphan home. 
To close Love's dying ej^es, and deck the tomb ! 

This lays our hearts, our fortunes, you before. 
This makes the callous love, the wit adore. 
The old to reverence and the sage commend. 
The saint to worship and the bold defend. 

Whatever you win by different paths, you los^ 
All these, doubt not ; so weigh them, ere you choose. 



48 



LYRA AMORIS 



FORGET ME NOT! 

FOEGET me not ! forget me not ! 
Though to far climes you wander ; 
let it not^ no, let it not 

Put two such hearts asunder ! 

But love me still, love me still, 
Wherever the bright stars under ! 

Eemember still, remember still, 
And on our parting ponder ! 

Can you forget, can you forget 

The last fond kiss was taken? 
And can you let, can you let 
Me thus be so mistaken ? 

no ! you^ll not, no ! you^l not, 
Though thus we weeping sever ; 

But love will live, and love will give 
A true kiss back, as ever ! 



49 



LYRA AMOBIS 

Then tell me not^ no ! tell me not 
That f ar^ far climes can sunder ! 

But love me stilly yes, love me still, 
Wherever the bright stars under ! 



50 



LYRA AM0RI8 



WERE SHE SITTING BESIDE ME 

OH ! sweetly the mockingbird sang on the tree, 
And the breeze breathed as softly as Love ever sighed ; 
The flowers were blooming, the leaves danced in glee, 
And all that I wanted was her by my side ! 

So the bright bird he sang all his sweet notes in vain. 
And as vainly tJie breezes breathed softly and low; 

And, though rare buds their incense did over me rain, 
"What is all this?"^ I said, ^'It is fair, yes, I know; 

But, unshared, it reminds me of what it might be. 
If I heard with her ear, if I saw with her eye ! — 

Were she sitting beside me beneath this fair tree. 

The breeze might grow rough, and the bird he might fly; 

The rose and the lily might throw no perfume, 
W^ere she sitting beside me — Fm sitting alone! 

And my head is a clod, and my breast is a tomb — 
I hear naught — I see naught — Fm sitting alone T 



51 



LYRA AMOBIS 



ON EETUENING A GIFT 

ICANN'OT, like the noble Eoman, 
Give up a world for love of thee ; 
But, less than worlds, seem all to common, 
To be keep-sakes ^twixt thee and me. 



52 



LYRA AM0RI8 



ON LOVE 



THEY sav that Heaven^s all love^ I know lovers 
Heaven : 
To us each day is holy, not one in seven ; 
Which proves indeed, or indeed seems to prove, 
Heaven, after all, less holy is than love. 



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LYRA AMORIS 



DEVOTION SEASONABLE 

DEVOTION" changes with the styles : 
With weather dow^n at zero, 
You cannot win her now wdth smiles — 
The occasion asks a hero ! 

Xn(\, since I would my faith display, 
And have her, too, remember. 

Then I, who sang her songs last May, 
Will this do in December: 

Then, rather than she should be seen 
Without her fur, I swear it, 

I would peel off my own thin skin. 
And smile to see her wear it ! 

And, more if any man will do. 

To prove him still more true t' her, 

1^11 pawn my offering with a Jew, 
And buy one that will suit her ! 



54 



LYRA AM0RI8 



A GREETING FOB NEW YEAR 

OF wealth and of fortune I've but little to spare^ 
But, had I the worlds ^tis with you I would share ! 
no ! I would not cut the bright world in two, 
But, as whole as my heart, I would give it to you ! 
And, when I'd surrendered the bright, brilliant prize, 
T might find it again in the light of your eyes ; 
Tn a kiss from your lips, in a touch of your hand, 
T would know I connnanded the sea and the land ; 
And the stars would be lackeys, the winds would not blow, 
Till I issued my orders of where they should go ; 
And the Sun he would stand, and the Moon she would hide, 
Till I bade them go, shine, as I sat by thy side; 
And I'd nod to the Fates, and they'd bow back to me. 
And the brightest of lots they should still sort for thee; 
And both Time and old Death on my bidding should stay — 
He would waste not a sand, and he nothing would slay; 
And the year would be Spring, and a year as a day, 
While we ruled the bright world — if we can't, vet Love may ! 



LYRA AMOBIS 

Ah ! how different the fact — ^yet a beggar may dream 
He^s a king — and he is — what is lucre to him ? 
And, though poor as a beggar, and of fortune bereft. 
What care I for worlds, while your love is still left ! 

iWhile your love is still left, I will dream as I do, 
And each brilliant world shall be offered to you ! 



56 



LYRA AMORIS 



ON GIFTS EECEIVED AT CHEISTMAS 

NOW I cannot get wet, and I cannot well fall. 
Except deeper in love with the Queen of them all^ 
And as spruce as a dandy and as warm as a toast, 
The only thing troubles me is — which I like most? 
But of this I am certain, and for this I will fight. 
That the thing you will do, is the thing that^s all right! 

Be it a question of moment, or a question of Me, 
Be it done by My Lady, ^twill be done to a TI 



57 



LYRA AMORIS 



LIKE THE MINSTEEL OF NATUEE 

LIKE the minstrel of nature, so true to its home, 
That, removed to another one, forever keeps dumb. 
So thy sad-hearted wanderer, unlit by thine eyes, 
Must needs droop ^neath the blue of his own southern skies; 
And his voice will be mute and his heart be unstrung. 
That he smote at thy wish, as to please thee he sung; 
And all one if they tease him, all one if they woo. 
Since he cares not to please them, ^tis in vain they will sue. 

And tell me, tell me, why, why should he be 
A bright thing, a light thing, when absent from thee? — 
Yes, the skies may be never so fair o^er his head. 
But his heart will be heavy and his spirits all lead ; 
Since uncheered by thy voice, since unblessed by thy smile, 
'Tis in vain tliat another should seek to beguile! 
He will listen in silence, or heed not at all — 
He is listening for one, though a million should call! 



58 



LYRA AMORIS 

But^ restore that poor bird to the first home he knew, 
And he^ll sprinkle the kindness with melody's dew; 
And he'll prune every feather anew in his wing. 
And as free as he flew 'neath the bine he will sing: 
So call back thy wanderer once more to thy breast, 
And his pleasure will echo each string at its best; 
And, forgotten the sorrow when absent from thee. 
He'll alone then remember the pleasure to be. 

But, deprived of that pleasure, whatever may come. 
He will prove but a nightingale taken from home ! 



59 



LYBA AM0RI8 



REMEMBEE STILL! 



WHEiST flowers blow anew in spring, 
And fresh brown coats are winging, 
And every sweet and pretty thing 
Is flowering or singing, 

Among the rest, less pretty are, 

Forget me not, my Beauty! 
Or else, in truth, great pity ^twere 

That you should show no pity ! 

And, when the frost is on the bough. 
Or cold snows have displaced it, 

Eemember still to love, as now; 
Or, faith — you have disgraced it ! 

My pretty eyes, my dainty lips ! 

Forget me then, and never ; 
And ^twixt our hearts, whatever haps, 

There^s this — no hap can sever ! 



60 



LYRA AMOBIS 



MY LOVE A RED ROSE SENT ME 

MY love a red rose sent me : 
Which said to me, ^^She meant me. 
Sans rhetoric, art, 
To show her heart. 
That would in all content thee : 
As warm as true. 
For onl}^ you !" 
Said the sweet red rose she sent me. 

And I, replying to it, 

Said, ^^Sweet red rose, I know it ! 

So say to her, 

The way to her 
Bright roses still bestrow it; 

While thorns alone 

1^11 find upon 
Every other road — I know it! 



6i 



LYRA AM OBIS 

And, so, I shall pursue none, 

But the old road — and no new one — 

That leads me back 

To all I lack, 
My dear, rare love and true one ! 

So tell her, rose: — 

^0 need — she knows — 
A true heart reads a true one! 



62 



LYRA AMORIS 



OH! WERE OUR HEARTS AS ISLES AT SEA! 

OH ! were our hearts as isles at sea^, 
Where waves of love forever dashed. 
How could they be more ceaselessly 
By deeper, warmer surges washed? 

Or, were we two kind neighboring stars, 
In yon immense etherial blue — 

I as another glistering Mars, 

Another glittering Venus you; 

A clearer welcome could we give, 
A brighter, surer path pursue. 

Were you a light did ever live. 

And I a star did come to woo? 

Xo, more we could not feel or be, 
More deeply thrill, more truly love. 

Were we, indeed, such isles at sea. 

Or two such neighboring stars above ! 



63 



LYRA AMORIS 



^'AWAY!^' 



STILL to sit beneath thine eyes, 
Hear thy voiee^s silver}^ river, 
This for me were Paradise — 
Paradise Vye lost forever ! 

Still to feel thj warm arms ^round me, 
With thy loose locks lightly playing, 

On that breast, where thou hast crowned me 
Lord of more than kings are swaying ! 

Thus to live had been my glory, 
Every wish to roam departed; 

And a wanderer^s tragic story 

Had been smiled at, happy-hearted! 

Day and night, and night and day — 
Ah ! the pain that I should miss it ! 

But a hand points me ''Away!'' — 

^Tis thine ov:n — I l)Ow, and kiss it ! 



64 



LYRA AMOBIS 



CLAEABELLE 

BEIGHTLY beam the heavens o^er me, 
Clarabelle ! 
Oft I read their golden story. 
And the world seems fair before me, 
Clarabelle ! 

But for me no light there lies, 
On the earth or in the skies. 
Like the love-light in thine eyes, 

Clarabelle !— 
All the light it fades and dies 
With the love-light in thine eyes, 

Clarabelle ! 

I have heard the sweet birds singing, 

Clarabelle ! 
Watched them wooing, watched them winging, 
From green bough to green bough springing, 

Clarabelle ! 



65 



LYRA AMORIS 

But, tho^ sweet their voices be. 
They are not so sweet to me — 
All the music went with thee^ 

Clarabelle ! 
Oh ! my heart is like a tree^ 
Whence the bird has flown — with thee, 

Clarabelle ! 

All my joy with thee departed, 

Clarabelle ! 
Empty-handed, empty-hearted, 
I am like that bough deserted, 

Clarabelle ! | 

And to hold thee here forever | 

On my heart, or die so ever, — 
That may never be, oh ! never, 

Clarabelle ! 
Ah! how cruel thus to sever 
Hearts like ours — and forever, 

Clarabelle ! 



66 



LTRA AM0RJ8 

Still thou livest in my dreams, 

Clarabelle ! 
Still the present with thee beams, 
And the future with thee gleams, 

Clarabelle ! 

All is better for thy sake, 

Who of Earth a Heaven didst make: 

But that Heaven away didst take, 

Clarabelle ! 
When thou didst me thus forsake, 
Thou away my Heaven didst take, 

Clarabelle ! 

Fortune follow, Heaven bless thee ! 

Clarabelle ! 
Tho' I never more may press thee 
To this breast, no more caress thee, 

Clarabelle ! 



67 



LYRA AM0BI8 

May the Angels have care of thee, 
Till an Angel thou shalt prove thee ! 
But they cannot better love thee^ 

Clarabelle ! 
No, by all that's bright above thee. 
They will never better lov^e thee, 

Clarabelle! 



68 



LYRA AM0BI8 



SATIS SUPERQUE! 

"1 Y/HATEVEE men shall say in future days, 
W Tliey must allow thy love was ample praise : 
As the enchanting Waller fairly says, 
"He catched at Love, and filled his arms with iaysT 



69 



